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Sandi’s Year In Books

Sandi’s 2025 Year in Books

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Sandi Ward’s Followers (196)

Sandi’s Bookshelves

to-read (553)
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Sandi’s Friends (200)

Lukas Klessig

34 books | 1,365 friends

Marina Myles

126 books | 1,100 friends

Toni Laliberte

17,008 books | 194 friends

Thuita Maina

249 books | 5,784 friends

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5,657 books | 3,956 friends

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Sandi Ward

Goodreads Author

Born

in Springfield, MA, The United States

Website

http://www.sandiwardbooks.com

Twitter

sandiwardbooks

Genre

Fiction, Contemporary

Member Since

March 2014

URL

https://www.goodreads.com/sandiward

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Sandi Ward is a native New Englander who now lives on the Jersey Shore with her husband, kids, dog and a big black cat named Winnie. She received her MA in Creative Writing from NYU, and is a copywriter at an advertising agency. Her novels include THE ASTONISHING THING, SOMETHING WORTH SAVING, and WHAT HOLDS US TOGETHER (Kensington Books).

Visit Sandi at: http://www.sandiwardbooks.com
Follow her on Twitter: http://twitter.com/sandiwardbooks/
Find her on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/sandiwardbooks/
Connect on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sandiwardbo... ...more

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Popular Answered Questions

I love your books so much! How do you stay motivated to write? Whenever I try to write something I can never get past the middle...

Sandi Ward Thanks! That's a good question. I think there's two parts to it. First, I get motivated to write a story because I feel very compelled—I have an idea …moreThanks! That's a good question. I think there's two parts to it. First, I get motivated to write a story because I feel very compelled—I have an idea that I feel passionate about, and have to get it out on paper (or, in my case, on my laptop). Often I get ideas for scenes when I'm doing something mindless where I don't have to think too much, like walking my dog, and then I type it up later. So I guess I don't have to force myself to sit and write because I do it for fun! I find it entertaining (and probably therapeutic).

The second part, though, is that once I start a story, I have to figure out where it's going to go. That's harder. Sometimes I have an idea, get the characters in place—but then I'm not completely sure where to take it. I don't outline or plan my books ahead of time, so I have to figure everything out mid-story.

I assume that if a story line isn't compelling to me, it won't be compelling to readers either. So if I'm running out of steam, I change it up. I'll throw in a few twists or unexpected turns in the middle. I try to think: what would be surprising here? And then I can go back and edit what I wrote before to fit. I'll try to give readers a few moments of "I didn't see that coming—but of course, that makes sense!"

I think a lot of writers find the middle hard to get through, even when they have an ending in mind. I usually have a few secondary characters to play with who can step up and insert themselves into the plot, sending things in a new direction. And I sometimes throw in exterior obstacles, whether it's a broken leg or a snowstorm.

Writing realistic fiction for me means thinking about dramatic things that happen in our everyday lives, and then amplifying them. What if everything my character hoped wouldn't happen actually came to pass? So I try to make things increasingly more complicated, and incorporate scenes that are fun (or interesting, or heartbreaking, or inspiring) for me to write.

I hope this helps. Good luck with your writing!
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You next book sounds as good as the first one. Thank you for writing this. When I saw it was written from a cats point of view, I had to read it. :) I am currently reading it now. I hope these become a whole series of books? Sorry this was a comment so I put a question mark there so it would be accepted. I just wanted to tell you how much I love the premises of you books.

Sandi Ward Hi, and thanks for reading! I'm glad you love the concept. Right now I only have two books written from a cat's point of view, but you never know! May…moreHi, and thanks for reading! I'm glad you love the concept. Right now I only have two books written from a cat's point of view, but you never know! Maybe there will be more in the future.

Writing from a cat's POV has been a great way to show scenes going on between different family members. No one keeps secrets from their pets. Pets see everything, witnessing all of the behind-the-scenes drama we sometimes hide from the outside world. But of course our pets love us no matter what, which makes them perfect companions. (less)

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Combine Editions
Sandi Ward’s books

Average rating: 3.83 · 1,850 ratings · 365 reviews · 3 distinct works • Similar authors

	The Astonishing Thing 3.82 avg rating — 903 ratings — published 2017 — 8 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Something Worth Saving 3.84 avg rating — 777 ratings — published 2018 — 11 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	What Holds Us Together 3.79 avg rating — 170 ratings — 8 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

* Note: these are all the books on Goodreads for this author. To add more, click here.

56 posts
Sandi Ward's Blog

The Purpose of Fiction

I’ve been skimming through book descriptions online this evening and reading reader reviews, trying to pick out my next read. I’m always amazed how a novel for one person might be “my favorite book of all time” (5 stars) and for someone else is “a waste of time” (1 star). If you’ve never done it, go pick out a few fiction bestsellers and check out a few 5 star reviews and then a few 1 star reviews

Sandi is Currently Reading

Sandi Ward is currently reading

Don't Look Back

by Jennifer L. Armentrout (Goodreads Author)

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19 hours, 0 min ago

Sandi Ward is currently reading

All Consuming: Why We Eat the Way We Eat Now

by Ruby Tandoh (Goodreads Author)

bookshelves: currently-reading

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Dec 25, 2025 07:51PM

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Sandi’s Recent Updates

Sandi Ward rated a book it was amazing The Midnight Library (The Midnight World, #1) by Matt Haig (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
"It was, she decided, a very good time to die."⁠ A clever premise. Sad and hopeful at the same time. ...more
3 hours, 25 min ago · 3 likes · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Midnight Library by Matt Haig. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Midnight Library by Matt Haig <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Sandi Ward rated a book it was amazing The Glass Girl by Kathleen Glasgow (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Everything I read by Kathleen Glasgow is excellent! The stories feel real and relatable. This novel contains so much of what I love about contemporary YA, an exploration of real people with serious problems and all of the up-close-and-personal feels.
3 hours, 29 min ago · 1 like · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Glass Girl by Kathleen Glasgow. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Glass Girl by Kathleen Glasgow <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Sandi Ward is on page 37 of 369 of Don't Look Back Don't Look Back by Jennifer L. Armentrout (Goodreads Author) progress:	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
18 hours, 33 min ago · like · see status · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Don't Look Back by Jennifer L. Armentrout. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Don't Look Back by Jennifer L. Armentrout <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Sandi Ward is currently reading Don't Look Back by Jennifer L. Armentrout (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
19 hours, 0 min ago · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Don't Look Back by Jennifer L. Armentrout. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Don't Look Back by Jennifer L. Armentrout <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Sandi Ward and 1 other person liked Kathleen Flynn's review of Five Found Dead: "Why I read it: it was mentioned in an article about new takes on classic murder mysteries. The same article inspired me to recently read "The Three Coffins" and "Murder on the Orient Express." Altogether it's been a murder-heavy month! "Five Found Dea" Read more of this review »
Jan 07, 2026 10:17AM · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Five Found Dead by Sulari Gentill. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Five Found Dead by Sulari Gentill <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Sandi Ward rated a book it was amazing The Women by Kristin Hannah (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
My first Kristin Hannah read. This was a great one! I don't read a lot of historical fiction, but when I do, I'm often blown away and love it more than I expected to. ⁠ ⁠ ...more
Jan 07, 2026 09:04AM · 1 like · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Women by Kristin Hannah. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Women by Kristin Hannah <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Sandi Ward rated a book it was amazing One Perfect Couple by Ruth Ware (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
A fun read! I'm not a big reality TV person, but the premise was intriguing and the story compelling. ...more
Jan 07, 2026 09:03AM · 1 like · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of One Perfect Couple by Ruth Ware. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — One Perfect Couple by Ruth Ware <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Sandi Ward rated a book it was amazing All Our Hidden Gifts (All Our Hidden Gifts, #1) by Caroline O'Donoghue (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
I enjoyed this novel and found the characters to be interesting and intriguing. I felt like I was able to really see what was in the hearts of these characters, if that makes sense. I love it when the author is able to pull me in close like that.
Jan 07, 2026 09:01AM · 1 like · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of All Our Hidden Gifts by Caroline O'Donoghue. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — All Our Hidden Gifts by Caroline O'Donoghue <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Sandi Ward rated a book it was amazing A Lesson in Vengeance by Victoria Lee (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
The highlight of this book for me were some beautifully written passages. I haven't underlined so many sentences in a book in a long time. ...more
Jan 07, 2026 08:57AM · 1 like · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of A Lesson in Vengeance by Victoria Lee. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — A Lesson in Vengeance by Victoria Lee <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Sandi Ward rated a book it was amazing Difficult Girls by Veronica Bane (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jan 05, 2026 06:28PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Difficult Girls by Veronica Bane. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Difficult Girls by Veronica Bane <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">

More of Sandi's books…

Quotes by Sandi Ward (?)

“Sometimes, for humans and for animals, sleep is the best thing.”
― Sandi Ward, Something Worth Saving

1 likes

“I gravitate to the one who feeds me, who cuddles and sleeps with me, who understands my needs. Don’t we all?”
― Sandi Ward, Something Worth Saving

1 likes

“We all have faults, we all have weaknesses, and we all have insecurities. These humans are not perfect, and neither am I. But together we each get a little bit stronger. Together, we can figure out a way forward.”
― Sandi Ward, The Astonishing Thing

tags: inspirational, life, together

1 likes

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Polls

Which genre would you like to read for the January Book of the Month?

Mystery- 3 of 3 books

Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty

The Girl In The Ice (Detective Erika Foster, #1) by Robert Bryndza

The Girl In The Ice by Robert Bryndza

The Chemist by Stephenie Meyer

78 votes 50.6%

Science Fiction - 3 of 3 Books

Scythe (Arc of a Scythe, #1) by Neal Shusterman

Scythe by Neal Shusterman

Happiness For Humans by P.Z. Reizin

The Rise and Fall of D.O.D.O. by Neal Stephenson

47 votes 30.5%

Contemporary - 3/3 books

Call Me by Your Name: A Novel by André Aciman

The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry (Harold Fry, #1) by Rachel Joyce

The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce

The Astonishing Thing by Sandi Ward

15 votes 9.7%

Fiction- 3 of 3 Books

The Year of Fog by Michelle Richmond

The Story of Arthur Truluv by Elizabeth Berg

2001 A Space Odyssey (Space Odyssey, #1) by Arthur C. Clarke

2001: A Space Odyssey by Arthur C. Clarke

14 votes 9.1%

154 total votes

9 comments

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